Wireless Device Manufacturers Increase Number of Hearing Aid Compatible Handset Models by Nearly One-Third in 2007, According to ATIS Report

November 29, 2007, Washington, DC- ATIS announced today it has filed its Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Status Report with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on behalf of the ATIS Incubator Solutions Program #4. The Status Report provides information about the availability of hearing aid compatible wireless devices from parties active in the ATIS HAC Incubator Program, which includes wireless service providers and manufacturers, hearing aid consumers and consumer advocacy organizations.

Nineteen companies submitted their individual status reports to be included in the ATIS HAC Incubator consolidated industry filing for 2007, which showed that manufacturers have increased the number of wireless device models available on the market by nearly one-third since 2006. Last year, 108 models with FCC-granted M3 or T3 or higher ratings were available as compared to 150 models available in 2007. Similarly, service providers increased the availability of HAC wireless devices from 93 in 2006 to 131 models with FCC-granted M3 or T3 or higher ratings in 2007.

“The ATIS HAC Incubator continues to be critical for addressing the technical issues of interoperability and fostering the availability of HAC wireless devices for consumers,” stated Susan Miller, CEO and President of ATIS. “The significant increase in availability of wireless devices on the market represents ATIS’ commitment to working with the hearing advocacy community and to meet and exceed their needs.”

In 2003, the FCC released a Report & Order (R&O) in WT 01-309 requiring digital wireless phones to be hearing aid compatible based on an established technical standard, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C63.19 Standard. The FCC also established reporting requirements to monitor compliance of wireless device service providers and manufacturers. Under the R&O, service providers and manufacturers filed compliance reports every six months for the first three years after the effective date of the R&O. For 2007 and 2008, reports must be filed annually.

About the ATIS Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Incubator

The ATIS HAC Incubator works to identify and address key technical issues related to the advancement of the ANSI C63.19 Standard and achieving a broad range of hearing aid compatible wireless devices as required by the FCC. For more information on the ATIS HAC Incubator’s activities, visit the ATIS Web site at http://www.atis.org/hac/

About ATIS

ATIS is a technical planning and standards development organization that is committed to rapidly developing and promoting technical and operations standards for the communications and related information technologies industry worldwide using a pragmatic, flexible and open approach. Participants from more than 300 communications companies are active in ATIS’ 22 industry committees and Incubator Solutions Program. www.atis.org